Identification tag



July 22 1924.

v E. J. w. DE FOREEST ET AL IDENTIFICATION TAG Filed Nov. '7, I922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M y m m T mm W q r July 22, 1924.

E. J. W. DE FOREEST ET AL IDENTIFI CATION TAG Filed Nov. 7, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r I r I I r 4 r I 1 I I I I I miles and other vehicles.

is placed solely on State registration tags Patented July 22, 1924 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

' J. W. DE FOREEST AND FREDRICK BAILEY, OF TULSA, GKLAHOMA.

DENTIFICATION. TAG.

1 0 all whom/it may concern:

Be it known that EARL J. W. DE FOREEST and FREDRICK W. BAILEY, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Identification Tags, of which the following is a specification. 1 w

This invention relates to devices for guarding against the theft of automolVhere reliance and the ability of one to prove ownership; of his automobile through the usual-- identification means, recovery, in the event of theft, is frequently delayed and much annoyance and inconvenience experienced because of the very inadequate protection afforded by such means of identification. Therefore, it is one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a com bined license, identification certificate, and abstract of title, and a novel means for housing and displayin the same in such a manner as to positive y preclude any removal,

substitution, alteration, or other disturbance of the displayed identification certificate and license without detection, these several parts constituting a medium whereby the actual owner of the automobile or other ve-, hicle may be identified beyond question, and any unauthorized user of the automobile apprehended with certainty. I

The improvements embodying the invention are designed primarily for employment in connection with the tag holder forming the subject-matter of Patent 1,260,156, issued to E. J. W. De Foreest, March 19, 1918, and it is contemplated that the invention be employed under an established-and authorized system of registration whereb the authorities issuing the license. identi cation certificate, and abstract of title, may cooperate with the actual owner of the vehicle in identifying the same in the event of theft, unauthorized use, or disputed possession'of the vehicle, in establishing ownership.

The invention contemplates, as previously stated, the employment within the holder disclosed in the said patent, of an instrument constituting a license, an identification certificate, and an abstract of title, and another important object of the invention is to so arrange these component parts and so mount the same with n the holder as to preclude alteration, substitution, or tampering Application filed November 7, 1922. Serial No. 599,527.

with the license and identification certificate without mutilation or destruction of the same thus rendering it immediately evident that theft or unauthorized use has been attempted, and in this connection the invention has as a further object to provide against any mutilation of the abstract of title so that .this medium of identification will remain intact and cannot be disturbed except by the proper authorities.

Another object ofthe invention is to pro Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device embodying the invention and the holder within which it is to be mounted, the parts being shown disassembled;

- Figure 2 is a detail vertical sectional view through the device with the parts assembled;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view on g the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;-

Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating one of the attaching members for the holder;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the combined license, identification certificate, and abstract of title, the component parts thereof being spread out; v v

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view through tlfs device shown in Fig. 5 arranged in one manner for disposal within the holder;

Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating another mannerof arranging the said device.

As the holder for the assemblage of parts comprising the invention is, with minor exceptions to be presently pointed out, identical with the patent above referred to, a brief description of the same will suflice. The holder is best illustrated in Figs. 1, 2

and 3 of the drawings and comprises a back plate 1' having overhanging frame members 2 at its opposite vertical edges and a similar member 3 at its lower edge, these members in connection with the back plate forming a pocket to receive the identification devices embodying the present invention. The upperside of the holder is adapted to be closed y a flange or frame member 4 extendin along the upper edge of a plate 5 which 16 adapted to he slid downwardly into the holder under conditions to be presently explained and is provided at its lower edge with a rearwardly projecting locking flange 6 designed to ride over and engage beneath locking tongues 7 preferably stamped out from the back plate '1'. Also for a purpose to be presently explained the plate 5 is formed with openings 8 designed to be located opposite the said tongues 7 in the locked position of .the plate. The holder is designed to be secured to any convenient art of the automobile or other vehicle as,

or example, to. the back thereof, indicated in the drawings by the numeral 9, and for I this purpose attaching clips 10 are employed and each of these clips, 'as'clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4: of the drawings, comprises a small metallic plate bent intermediate its ends and having its portions at the opposite sides of the bend therefore offset, one of these portions being indicated by the numeral 11 and the other by the numeral 12'. The portion 11 is designed to be passed through a slot 13 formed in the said back of the automobile body, and the portion 12 will then rest against the inner face of the plate 1. In order to prevent the portion 12 passing through a slot 14 which is formed in the plate 1 to accommodate the bend in the clip 10, it is preferable that this portion 12 be of greater width than the portion 11 and the said bend so as to provide abutment shoulders 15.

The assemblage embodying the invention includes a transparent pane 16 which is preferably of glass although other transparent materials might be employed for the purpose. The assemblage also includes a protective medium for the abstract of title. which medium is indicated bythe numeral 17, and preferably comprises a plate 18 of metal of substantially the same dimensions as the pane 16, and for a purpose to be presently' explained, formed with openings 19. The identification medium comprises a combined license, identification certificate, and abstract of title. indicated in general by the numeral 20, and consisting of a single sheet of paper or card board having a line of per forations 21 medially between its ends, thus dividin the sheet into two ortions, one indicated y the numeral 22 and the other by the numeral 23.- In assembling the several parts the portion 22 of the sheet is secured by adhesive to one face of'the pane 16, the plate 18 is disposed against the back of this portion of the sheet, and the other portion 23 of the sheet is then folded against the rear side of the said plate, the marginsof the pane, the plate, and the two portions 22 and 23 of the identification sheet, being in registration or substantial registration. The assemblage is then disposed against the front face of the plate 5, and the whole is slid downwardly into the holder 1 until the flange 6 rides over and engages beneath the locking tongues 7 whereupon the parts will be automatically locked and the assemblage embodying the identification medium will be permanently housed within the holder, being marginally engaged on all sides by the frame members 2, 3 and 4 and concealing and preventing access to the'locking tongues 7, so long as its component" parts remain intact.

-' The portion 22 of the sheet 20 constitutes a license and a certificate of registration or identification, andtherefore bears an appropriate heading'legend indicated by the numera'l 24. There is also printed upon the face of this portion of the sheet, as indi cated by the numeral 25, the name of the State issuing the license. There is also printed as at 26 the number of the license, and as at 27, the year in which issued. In a suitably designated space 28 there is to be mounted a photograph of the owner of the car, and preferably opposite this space there will be printed legends 29 and 30 designating spaces in the first of which the owner is to sign his name. and in the sec 0nd of which the name of his wife or other equitable owner may be written or signed. Another legend 31 designates a space in which the chauifeurs name may be written or signed. A group of legends 32 may likewise be printed upon the face of the card or sheet and will designate suitable spaces in which will be written, for example, the name of the car, the type, model, engine number, machine number, and horse power. Also upon the face of the sheet there may be written or printed, as at 33, the name of the city or town in which the owner resides, andhis street address. The authorities issuing the license will impress their seal of authority, as at 34-, and there will lUfi preferably be taken, upon the said face of as at 36. and opposite this word there is printed or written an arbitrary code word 37. The code word 37 is. as stated. arbitrarily selected and the significance thereof will presumably be known only to the owner of the car and the authorities issuing the license. For example, in the present instance the word is Bara and the translation thereof is Arab. Other code devices may be agreed upon and, for example, the initials of the owner. may be selected for this purpose. The initials of the owner in the example illustrated are F. W. 13., and the code words chosen may be Fort Worth Bulletin, these words being registered with the authorities and presumably known only to them and to the owner of the car. By

these devices, should it become necessary for the owner. of the car to prove his identity to any one, that one could satisfy himself by communicating with the authorities issuing the license, but one making unauthorized use of the car could not furnish the requisite proof and would therefore be unable to offer a satisfactory explanation as to his possession of the car. Reference has been made above to the .usefulness of the invention in identifying accessories or parts if lost or stolen, and this may be, accomplished by stamping the code word upon such parts either alone or in combination with the initials of theowner.

The other portion 23 of the sheet 20' constitutes an abstract of title and is designated by a suitable legend indicated by the numerah 38. Also there are preferably printed upon the face of this portion of the card or sheet suitable legends 39 designating spaces in which may be printed or written the name of the manufacturer, the name of the sales agent, or agency, the name and address of the first, second, and subsequent buyers, as well as the dates on which thesales transactions took place, and the, date of manufacture. legend 40 indicating a space in which may be written the name of the owner of thevehicle, and the sheet ma also bear his address, Furthermore, if esired, a legend 42 may be printed upon the face of the sheet indicating spaces in which may be written the name and address of any future purchaser of the machine. As indicated by the numeral 43, impressions of one or more of the owners fingers may be made in a.

space left for the purpose upon the face of the said portion of the sheet.

I As previously stated the. sheet 20 is to be assembled with the pane l6 and plate 18 by securing the face of the portion 22 of the said sheet to the face of the pane, disposing the plate 18 against the other side of'the said portion22, and then folding the portion 23 along the line of perforations 21.

to position back of the said plate 18. With the parts thus assembled and they being mtroduced into the holder and the holder closed and locked, it will be evident that access cannot be had to the portion 22 constitutingthe license and identification certificate, without breaking the pane of glass 16 and mutilating the said portion of the sheet. However, the plate 18 serves as a means for protecting theportion 23 of the sheet which bears'the abstract of title, and the said abstract will remain housed within the holder.

If it is desired to further insure of mutilation of the portion 22 of the sheet in the event of attempt being made to remove it, the said portion of the sheet may be arranged between two panes of glass 44 and There is also printed a.

'disposed between the pane an 'would 'be secured, as for example by adhesive, to the opposing faces of both panes 44 and 45. In any event the abstract of title borne upon the portion 23 of the sheet will be protected from mutilation by the plate 18.

It will be understood that after the identification medium is inserted within the holder and the holder is sealed, access cannot be gained to said medium except by breaking the glass 16 or the two panes 44 and 45, as the case may be. Therefore a new identification medium cannot be substituted for an old one, even by those authorized to make such substitution except by breaking the pane or panes and then inserting an instrument through the openings 8 and 11 to spring back the locking tongues 7 and permit of removal of the plate 5.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is:

1.' The c'ombi nation with a holder for anidentification medium and which holder is open at its front and adapted to be sealed against intact removal ofthe said medium,

of a transparent pane'in said holder exposed at the open front thereof, a roteotive plate within the holder in rear of the pane, and an identification medium havin a portion disposed between the pane an late and another portion disposed in rear 0 the plate and protected thereby.

2. The combination with a holder for an identification medium and which holder is open at its frontand adapted to be sealed against intact removal of the said medium, of a transparent pane in said holder exposed at the open front thereof, a protective plate within the holder in rear of the pane, and an identification medium having a portion disposed between the pane and plate and facially united to the pane and another portion disposed in rear of the plate and protected thereby. I

3. The combination with a holder for an identification medium and which holder is open at its front and is adapted to be sealed against intact removal-of the. said medium,

'of a transparent pane in said holder exposed at the open front thereof, a protective plate within the holder in rear of the frame, and an identification medium havin .a portion facially united to the pane, and another portion disposed in rear of the plate and-protected thereby.

4.-The combination with a holder for an identification medium and 'whichholder is open at its front and adapted to be sealed against intact removal of the said medium, of a transparent ane in said holder exposed at the open ront thereof, a protective plate and plate within the holder in-rear of the pane, and an identification medium comprising a.

' sheet of material bearing identification indicia and weakened along an intermediate line, the portion at one side of the weakened line being disposed between the pane and plate, and the portion at the other side of the weakened line being disposed in rear of the said plate and protected thereby;

5. The combination with a holder for an identification medium and which holder is open at its front and adapted to be sealed against intact removal of'the said medium, of a transparent pane in said holder exposed at the open front thereof, a protective plate within the holder in rear of the pane, and an identification medium comprising a sheet of material bearingidentification indicia and weakened along an intermediate line the portion at one side of the weakened line being disposed between the pane and plate, and the portion at the other side of the weakened line being disposed in rear of the said plate and protected thereby, the

said sheet at its weakened line being folded "plate and facially united to the pane.

around'one edge of the said plate. v

6. The combination with a holder for an identification medium and which holder is open at its front and adapted to be sealed against intact removal of the said medium,

offrangible panes in said holder, one exposed at the open front thereof, a protective plate within the holder in rear of the other 1 pane, and an identification mediumhaving a portion disposed between said panes and facially united thereto and another portion disposed in rear of the plate and protected thereby. Y V a 7. The combination with a holder for an identification medium comprising a back plate having frame members at three sides, a--'yieldable locking element carried loy the plate, a locking member having a frame portion extending at the other side of the holder and provided with means engageahle by the said locking element, of a frangible pane in the holder exposed at the open front thereof, a protective plate within the holder in rear of the pane and provided with an opening, the said locking member being likewise provided with an opening for registration with the opening in the plate and both of said openings being opposite the locking element, and an identification medium having a portion disposed between the pane and In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

EARL J. W. DE FOREEST. [1 3.] FREDRICK lV. BAILEY. [11.3.] 

